Canada played its final tune up game for the 2004 World Championship, losing 8-5 against theCzech Republic,
in front of a sold out crowd inPrague.

Canada jumped into an early 1-0 lead before the Czechs scored twice to go up 2-1. But for the rest of the
period, it was allCanada. Ryan Smyth had a great chance to tie the game, as did Shawn Horcoff and Derek
Morris, who hit the post, but it was the Czechs who scored the next goal.Canadareplied near the end of the
period and headed into the dressing room down 3-2, and in the second the Canadians scored early twice to
regain the lead, 4-3.

The Czechs answered with three goals in the final five minutes of the period, Josef Beranek finishing a nice
play to put the Czechs in the lead and Petr Prucha finishing a lovely play with the man advantage at19:37,
Stacey Roest in the box forCanada.

The Czechs moved three goals up early in the third period when Radek Dvorak was credited with a goal when his
shot ricocheted off the backboards and off the back of the leg of goalie J-S Giguere, who had replaced
starter Roberto Luongo midway through the game. Although Jan Alston brought the score a goal closer
forCanada, Jaromir Jagr closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal at19:32that he actually directed into
the goal with his skate. The referee went upstairs, and the video goal judge confirmed Jagr did not kick the
puck into the empty cage! Final score Czechs 8,Canada5.

Friday is a practise day for both teams before Saturday’s official start to this year’s World Championships
inPragueandOstrava.Canadaopens the championship on Sunday versusAustria.